Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoFreak  Next week Ill swing down for 30 min or so, long enough to give a little talk...no jackets, I can deal with. But shorts and no gloves is a huge thing for me, so Ill gather people around and use my big boy voice.
The thing is my friends, is this:
It's a public event, its the only sport bike oriented group that gathers weekly in Chit. County, and the bottom line is, people are going to wear what they want. I'm not going to tell a kid not to come to Bike Night cause he's wearing a jacket with shorts...I'll tell him he's an idiot...but not that he can't come.
Stunts and burn-outs warrant a "one strike you're out" policy, but we have not run into that yet...got some guys tossin wheelies in the back of the Parage Lap...and that will end next week as well.
We need to police ourselves, and make sure that we are promoting responsible riding...but I for one will not ban people for making the wrong choice when it comes to gear. |
My two cents...for what it's worth:
There are Bike Nights all over. Maybe not locally, but in other areas. What will make us different is a cause. As far as causes go, encouraging and teaching safe and responsible biking with proper gear is about the best cause we can have. It is at worst socially responsible, at best it is being a friend and possibly helping save someone's life or at least skin...literally.
That being said, if we are going to change the community it only makes sense that the community be there. If we drive them away by banning people that are not dressed responsibly we will lose the opportunity to teach them responsibility. As Billy pointed out, we can't ban them anyways, it is a public place.
We lead by example and by a kind (not degrading or harsh) word here and there as needed. I for one would like to see those people keep coming. One, because the more the merrier, but secondly, and more importantly, I would like to see them look at those of us properly outfitted and realize "hey, that is smart" or "hey, maybe I can be cool and wear the gear". Rather then kicking them out, let's befriend them and help them to find a safer way of riding. There is nothing wrong with these people, just their choice in "riding gear" and they may very well have a different viewpoint then we do. We certainly won't change their mind by kicking them out.
The core group wears the gear, and by continuing to do so around the others we will influence them as well. Stupid things like popping wheelies etc in the parade lap, by all means, kick them out OF THE PARADE LAP, not the event. It is dangerous to themselves and others.
None of us want to see anyone get hurt, none of us want to have the group seen as a bunch or irresponsible teenagers on fast bikes, wearing no gear pulling wheelies and stoppies....but on the other hand, if we just kick people out we will be seen as exclusive and narrow minded, we will never have an impact on the community like we want, and we will sink.
Big guy on the Valkyrie...up till this year he didn't think pants and shoes were needed etc. He got into a minor fender bender and it got the message through. People change. We don't want to see them get into an accident to change. So let's not push them away and right into traffic.
Why don't we sponsor a debate on safe gear vs tshirts and flip-flops. Maybe get someone on our side who can articulate in a straightforward manner, but without being condescending or rude so we don't look like a**holes making our point.
Lets welcome everyone, lead by example, be kind but direct and have an impact that is positive.
